The opening of Zarathustra/Chicago Symphony…

Liszt Mazeppa/Cleveland Orchestra (Jan 14, 1971)…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0gk3NxSnGc [unable to embed]

Boulez conducts Handel in Cleveland (1970)…

One of Boulez’s recordings of his Le Marteau sans maître; Elisabeth Laurence & EIC…

The Finale of Bruckner Eight (Haas’s edition) from complete Vienna Philharmonic recording…

Debussy Jeux/Cleveland Orchestra…

Elliott Carter A Symphony of Three Orchestras/New York Philharmonic…

Haydn Symphony 104 (London)/Vienna Philharmonic (1996)…

One of Boulez’s recordings of his Pli selon pli; Christine Schäfer & EIC…

The five (of twelve) piano Notations that Boulez expanded & orchestrated. Vienna Philharmonic/Claudio Abbado…

Répons (in its final version) conducted by Matthias Pintscher…

Wagner (as per cover)/New York Philharmonic

Mahler Ten; April 1970 (CBS)

Boulez conducts Copland’s Orchestral Variations/New York Philharmonic (1975, with radio announcement)…

Leonard Bernstein introduces & conducts Improvisation sur Mallarmé I (part of Pli selon pli). Marni Nixon (soprano) & New York Philharmonic. US premiere on April 2, 1960, at Carnegie Hall…

Boulez conducts Bartók: Music for strings, percussion and celesta; BBCSO; March 1967 (CBS recording)…

Boulez’s BBCSO/Argo recording of Harrison Birtwistle’s The Triumph of Time

Michael Gielen’s recording (whether it’s Baden-Baden or Stuttgart) of Boulez’s Rituel in memoriam Maderna; a little slower than either of the composer’s recorded versions (both BBCSO; CBS and Erato), to advantage IMO…

Boulez now conducts Handel with the New York Philharmonic (includes radio announcements)…

Boulez’s ‘interesting’, perhaps controversial, New Philharmonia/CBS recording of Beethoven Five (movement by movement); repeat in iii but not the Finale…

To conclude, a return to Chicago for music across the centuries, Bach/Schoenberg, the E-flat organ Prelude & Fugue (December 7, 1991).

To continue with the spoken and written word…

Tribute to Boulez from Cleveland Orchestra…

Five Short Portraits of Boulez (each separately tracked; plays through)…

Martyn Brabbins, Tony Pappano, and others, discuss Boulez…

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/08/pierre-boulez-centenary–he-jolted-us-out-of-our-comfort-zone-antonio-pappano-martyn-brabbins-and-more-on-the-composer

https://www.lso.co.uk/remembering-pierre-boulez

Previously on the Column

Finally, plenty of other Boulez postings on this site. I know from my own few and brief encounters with him – LSO rehearsals and functions, and an hour-long interview that was a pleasure – that Boulez was unfailingly friendly, courteous and charming, and at rehearsals demanding yet patient and humorous, and generous to colleagues.

Finally, finally … If you knew PB, worked with him, attended a great concert or have a favourite recording of his, or whatever it may be, and would like to share your memories, please do so below.